Sight guide · The Hague · Netherlands
Visiting Escher in Het Paleis
The former winter palace of Queen Emma on Lange Voorhout displays M.C.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Escher in Het Paleis is a museum in Hofkwartier and Noordeinde, The Hague. Allow 1.5 hours; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- Hofkwartier and Noordeinde
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- art, kids and rainy day
- Best months
- November–January
About Escher in Het Paleis
The former winter palace of Queen Emma on Lange Voorhout displays M.C. Escher's prints and drawings, from early Italian landscapes to his famous impossible staircases and tessellations, with optical-illusion rooms.
Tip: Older children enjoy the illusion rooms on the top floor.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1.5 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Hofkwartier and Noordeinde, antique shops, galleries and the King's working palace in the old court quarter.
Best time to visit Escher in Het Paleis
Escher in Het Paleis is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- November: 10°C (50°F) highs, about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- December: 7°C (45°F) highs, about 13 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- January: 6°C (43°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds.
When to visit The Hague has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day The Hague itinerary visits Escher in Het Paleis on day 3, together with Peace Palace and Panorama Mesdag.
- No. 6 of the 17 sights in our The Hague things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- One of the picks in museums in The Hague.
- A family favourite in The Hague with kids.
Near Escher in Het Paleis
Also in Hofkwartier and Noordeinde, so you can walk between them:
- Noordeinde Palace and gardens — 30 minutes, free
- Lange Voorhout — 30 minutes, free
If you like Escher in Het Paleis
- Mauritshuis — Centrum and the Hofvijver, 2 hours
- Kunstmuseum Den Haag — Statenkwartier, 2–3 hours
- Panorama Mesdag — Zeeheldenkwartier, 1 hour
- Louwman Museum — Mariahoeve, 2 hours
Staying near Escher in Het Paleis
Stay in Hofkwartier and Noordeinde ($$$$) to walk here: antique shops, galleries and the King's working palace in the old court quarter. All areas to stay in The Hague.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Escher in Het Paleis?
Plan 1.5 hours. With Noordeinde Palace and gardens nearby, it fits a half-day in Hofkwartier and Noordeinde.
+Is Escher in Het Paleis free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Escher in Het Paleis?
November–January, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Older children enjoy the illusion rooms on the top floor.
+Do I need to book Escher in Het Paleis in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Escher in Het Paleis good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in The Hague. The Hague is one of the easiest Dutch cities for families: beaches, Madurodam, the pier's ferris wheel, Escher's illusion rooms and dune parks are all close together, and trams are step-free.